Mower sickle grinder



Aug. 29, 1950 R. HOWELL MOWER SICKLE GRINDER Filed July 27, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet l U L i 3% 7 g f /Z INVENTOR,

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Aug. 29, 1950 R. HOWELL MOWER SICKLE GRINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July27, 1946 A 3! n ma III i n 0 W n I n 5 n A n n n n n OHIII I if 0 o w o3 2 l o O z w 2 I INl/fN TOR,

1 III/)2 TToR/vEx g- 1950 R. HOWELL 2,520,210

, MOWER SICKLE GRINDER Filed July 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR,

flay HOWELL,

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Aug. 29, 1950 R. HOWELL MOWER SICKLE GRINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July27, 1946 W H P 'INVENTOR,

/\ 0) HOWELL,

v fi'TOR/VEX g- 29, 1950 R. HOWELL 2,520,210

MOWER SICKLE GRINDER Filed July 2'7, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I0 9 5: 52 sz/2z M, 1Z2

33 INvE/v'roR,

40 Roy Hows,

JBYWQ mm fiTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOWER SICKLE GRINDERRoy Howell, Indianapolis, Ind. Application July 27, 1946, Serial No.686,622

"7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for automatically grinding a mowersickle, grinding opposing edges of the sickle sections, one sectionafter another automatically fed and positioned in the proper sequence inrelation to the position of the grinding wheel. A primary purpose of theinvention is to speed up the grinding of the complete sickle as opposedto practices heretofore employed. A further primary object of theinvention is to insure that each cutting edge of each section is groundto the proper bevel back of its cutting edge. These and many otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to thoseversed in the art in the following description of one particular form ofthe invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation with fragments of various partsbroken away to disclose elements therebehind;

Fig. 2, a detail in front elevation and partial section of the grindingwheel elevation control mechanism;

Fig. 3, a top plan view;

Fig. 4, a view in section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a view in vertical section on the line 55 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, a view in bottom plan;

Fig. '7, a view in right hand elevation and partial section in respectto the machine as viewed from the front side;

Fig. 8, a detail in vertical section through the pitman rod andpositioning lever connection;

Fig. 9, a vertical section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10, a view in rear elevation and partial section of the machine.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews in the drawings.

Any suitable foundation framework may be provided to support the variouselements of the structure embodying the invention. In the present form,this foundation structure is comprised of vertically disposed cornerposts H, l2, l3, and I4, each having the form of an angle iron. Theupper end portions of these four posts are tied together, H to l3, and12 to I4, by means of the fore and aft top angle iron rails I 5 and itrespectively. Like rails l1 and I8 interconnect respectively the cornerposts II and I3, and I2 and I4, toward the lower end portions thereof.Then, there is a lower transverse angle iron 19 interconnecting theposts II and I2, and there is a lower transverse angle iron 20interconnecting 2 the posts [3 and I4. Both of these rails l9 and 20 arespaced downwardly toward the lower ends of those respective posts.

Toward the upper end portions of the posts I I and I2, Fig. l, is a rail2| interconnecting therewith, and then intermediate rail l9 and thatupper rail 2! is a rail 22, likewise interconnecting the posts H and I2.Toward the upper end portions of the rear posts l3 and I4 is aninterconnecting rail 23, Fig. 10. Thus by these various rail membersinterconnecting with the four corner posts, a substantial, rigid frameis provided. 1

A shaft 24 is carried by its end portions by the rear posts 13 and I4.Mounted to revolve on the shaft 24 are two brackets 25 and 26 held inspaced apart relation by being secured against the under rear endportion of a table guide frame 21. The frame 21 is centrally spacedbetween the upper end portion of the posts It and I4 by means of collars28 and 29 through which the end portions of the shaft 24 extend to havethe respective ends of those collars abut the outer faces of thebrackets 25 and 28 and the inner faces of the posts, Fig. 10. This frame27 extends forwardly to terminate by a front cross bar 36 normallyspaced above the frame rail 2|. From the outside of the rail 30, hereinshown as centrally disposed, there extends downwardly a short post 3| toenter a sleeve 32 which is loosely carried around the upper threaded endportions of a vertically disposed shaft 33, Fig. 2.

A bevel gear 34 is provided to have a hub 35 screw-threadedly engaged onthe upper end of the shaft 33, the lower end of the sleeve 32 restingagainst the smooth central face of the top side of the gear 34. Ahorizontally disposed shaft 36 extends inwardly through the corner postl2, and a supporting bracket 31, to carry on its rear end a bevel gear38 fixed to that end of the shaft 36 to have the gear 38 maintained inconstant mesh with the gear 34. A crank 39 is fixed on the outer end ofthe shaft 35 outside of the post l2 as a means of revolving the shaft35, and hence through the gear 38, revolving the gear 34. The shaft 33,Fig. 1, extends downwardly through the rails 22 and I9 to slide througha block 40 where a key 4| held by that block engages slidingly in aspline 42 provided in the shaft 33 as means to prevent rotation of theshaft 33 while permitting vertical, longitudinal travel thereof. Thus byturning the crank 39, the gear 35 will cause the shaft 33 to travelupwardly or downwardly therethrough depending upon the direction ofrotation of the crank. This action will cause lifting and lowering ofthe front cross bar 30 since the lower end of the post 3! extendsloosely through the sleeve 32 to bear indirectly upon the upper end ofthe shaft 33 appearing within the sleeve. The sleeve serves to preventlateral shifting of the bar 30 since it maintains the post 3| invertical alignment with the shaft 33. As the shaft 33 may be raised andlowered, the frame 21 is accordingly rocked about the. shaft 24.

A table 44 of any suitable construction is mounted on top of the frame21 to be guided.- thereover in a fore and aft direction. In the presentshowing, the frame 21 is provided withangle irons 35 and 46 mountedalong each. edge on the top side thereof to have one leg in eachinstance upturned. To serve as-a stop, the-angle: iron 4'! is carriedacross the rear side of the table on the frame 2'1. While any type oftrack such as V-ways may be employed to guide the table 44, in thepresent showing, the'table 44" ispro- Vi'ded with angle irons48'and49-alongthe-outer longitudinal edges thereof to have the legs ofthose irons extend under the table 44 by'one-set andlupwardly alongitsouteredges'by'the" other set of the legs; The transverse dimension ismade to be such that the angle irons 48 and- 49 will be slidingly guidedwithinthe angle" irons 45 and'46, Fig. 2;

The table 44 has a motor 50 mounted on its top side in fixedpositionthereon to' have its armature shaftl extendtherefrom at eachside of the motor. The shaft 5| carries pulleys 52and 5'3 fixed'thereonabout'w hich therespective belts 5.4 and 55 are carried to extendforwardly and be carried around pulleys 56 and 51 mounted respectivelyon outer ends of" a shaft 58' which is carried by the table 44through'thebearings 5B. and 60. Inside of'thebearings 59'and60 arepulleys 6i and liz'fixed to the'shaft' 5B to-carry respectively thebelts 63 and 64 extendingforwardly around pulleys 95' and" 66 fixed onthe shaft 61; Betweenthe pulleys:65-an'd G'Eiis fixed the usual shapedsickle grinding wheel 681' The shaft GT is carried by end bearings 69and 1'0, that are respectively fixed to; angle iron brackets Hand 12.These brackets TI and 12 are. pivoted respectively through theirvertically disposed legs by the bolts 73" and 14" through up turned legsof the brackets TSand T6 which are fixed to the table 44. Inother words,the shaft 6'! carrying the grinding wheelffill may be rocked upwardlyfrom the lowermost'resting positions of the brackets ll and'll'on'thetop of the table 44:

To. control the upper traveling of the shaft 6.1,- some yielding limitmeans is' employed. In the showing herein made, each bracket carryingtheshaft 61, as best indicated in Fig. 5,,in reference to the bracketll, has a bolt 1T freely carried downwardly through the horizontal.legof thebracket to screw-tlireadedly engage with the table 44. Between thehead'of the bolt IT and thehorizontal'leg of the bracket l [ispositioned a spring 18 so that as the shaft BTmay, be lifted, thatlifting action is resisted by the pressure of the. spring 18. It isintended. that the brackets ii and 12 be normally heldfdown in contactwith the top face of-the table 44. Then in the grind;- ing action, thewheel 68 may initially liftito have downward pressure exerted thereonduring the grinding operation.

Referring again to the motor. shaft 5l',.on the extreme outer endsthereof are mountedrespectively. in fixed positions, pulleys. 80 and.81' to carry respectively belts 82and83extending rearwardly to engagearound large diameter pulleys 84 and 85 both fixed to the respectiveouter ends of a shaft 86 extending across the top side of the slidingtable 4:! to be carried thereupon through the bearings 81 and 88 fixedto the table. A spur gear 89 is fixed to the shaft 86 between the pulley84 and bearing 81 to mesh with a much larger diameter spur gear 90 thatis fixed to a. shaft 9|. carried across underv the table 44 and rnountedthereon by'means of. the bearings 92 and 93. Then on the opposite end ofthis shaft 9| is fixed a gear 94 of the same diameter as that of thegear 50, and so positioned as to meshwiththe spur gear 95 that is fixedto the shaft. 85 between the pulley 85 and the bearing 88; Figures 3 and6.

A.-.rocker. shaft-.56 is revolubly mounted on and back of the frontframe posts I l and [2. A lever ST is fixed on this shaft 96 adjacentthe end portion of the shaft 96 toward the post II in such' positionthat a pitman rod- 98, rochably fixed-to the upper endof'the lever 91,mayex-- tend'rearward'ly therefrom and along the outerface' of the spurgear 90- inparallel alignment therewith-to be rockably'engaged'by itsrear end about a crank pin 9'9 carriedby thegear 90. In the same manner,a lever I00 is fixed toward the otherend portion oftheshaft 96-tohave-its upper'end rock-ably engaged therewith by a pitman rod: I 53bwhich extends-rearwardly along the outer face of the gear 90- to-berockably connected-thereto about a" crank pin I522. The crank pins 95and I02 arecentered onthe same'radius fromtlie-center of the shaft 9|-and inthe same angularpositions. The end connections ofthe pitman rod'swith the-levers and'the'gear crank pins are best illustratedinthesectional view in Fig. 8 where, for' example; the pitman rod lfl'tcarries a thimble- I03 fitting around astud me that is screW-threadedlyengaged in theupper end of the lever I00; and the pitman rod is held onthe stud by means of a washer" I05 bearing against the outer end of thesleeve ID3 and-there held by the cap screw 106':

Both of the'levers'9l and lfill'may'be simultaneously rocked todifferent angular positions byrocking the shaft" 98; Fixed to an end ofthe shaft 96, Figs. 6 and 7,.is a lever llllwhich is carried upwardlyalong" the-outer side of the frame rail It and'slidingly heldthereagainst by an outer strap E08 fixed to the-rail l6 by its rear endand to the front" post [2' byits' forward end. Theupperend ofthis-leverlfll carries an'intumed'operating-handle I 09 and spaced below it isalatch release arm 0.. This arm H0 is connected to a vertically disposedrod Il'l that is slizlingfy' retained" along the inner side of the leverif]? to be normally urged downwardly by means of" a spring l'lZhSal'ing'between a" fixed mounting bracket l3 and" a pin H4 through therod l! l.The'lower end of the rod H l'ha-san'inturned foot 1 llfivrhich may slideover-thesectorild whiclris providedwith a plu rality of. notchestherein; herein shown as? a' for"- ward'notch I! 'i" and a reari'notch'll 8,.in which the foot H5i's' shown to' be engaged:

When the motor 5fi'i's' operating, and" the two gears: 90" and 94 are"rotating about the axisof theirshaft 91, the pitman rods 98 and till arereciprocating simultaneously. But, by" reason of the fact that thelevers 91'- and l ell are fixedin any one: of their shifted positions,the pivot con.- nectionswith those; levers; and thepitman rods 58'. and"ifll' remain fixed; and therefore; as the gears"90"and94' continuet'o'rotate; thetable" 44 is rier.

reciprocating accordingly. This reciprocating motion carries thegrinding wheel 68 forwardly and rearwardly in a definite, timedsequence.

A structure is provided for supporting a sickle to be ground and to moveit automatically from one postion to the next position, not only inrelation to the transverse diametrical center plane of the grindingwheel 68, but also in reference to the fore and aft travel of thegrinding wheel 68. This mechanism is now described as follows.

The customary mowing sickle, generally designated by the numeral I25,carries in the usual fashion a plurality of sections I2I riveted to abar I22 extending along under the heels of those sections. One end ofthe bar I22 has attached thereto in the usual manner a driving head,222, Fig. 1. A sickle carrier is formed, Fig. 4, to have a pair ofspaced apart angle irons I23 and I24 with downwardly disposed legsspaced one apart from the other, and upper and oppositely disposed toplegs. Between the downturned legs of these angle irons I23 and I24 isfixed a spacer bar I25 extending substantially throughout the entirelengths of those two angle irons. The under surface of this spacer barI25 is regularly toothed in the nature of a rack bar. This sickle barcarrier thus formed is supported and guided along a fixed trackforwardly of the grinding wheel 68.

This fixed track consists essentially of two angle bars I26 and I2I,each having oppositely and horizontally disposed upper legs and spacedapart downturned legs fixed in that spaced relation by means of aplurality of brackets I28 consisting of short lengths of angle ironscentrally notched to receive the downturned legs of the brackets I25 andI21 within the notch, Figs. 1 and. 4, and a horizontally disposed legacross under the lower edges of those downturned legs. The exactconstruction of these brackets is immaterial to the invention per sesince the two angle irons may be held in rigid, fixed, spaced apartrelations by other conceivable means.

The track thus formed is mounted forwardly of the frame posts I I and I2on the horizontally disposed legs I30 and I3I having their rear endsfixed respectively to the posts I I and I2, and their outer endssupported by downwardly and rearwardly extending braces I32 and I33. Theangle irons I23 and I24 of the sickle carrier are spaced apart at thatdistance which will require forceful pressing of the sickle bar I22between those angle irons so that the sickle bar is frictionallyretained in a fixed position relative to that car- The inner angle barI24 is provided with a series of V notches I34 to match the V openingsbetween sections I2I. Therefore, the sickle I25 is initially positionedon the carrier to have the section openings match with these V openingsI34 as indicated in Fig. 3.

A spur gear I35 is revolubly mounted on a shaft I36 below the sicklecarrier above described in such manner that this gear I35 is in constantmesh with the teeth of the bar I 25. By revolving this gear I35, thesickle can thus be made to travel to the left or right of the grindingwheel 68 as viewed in Fig. 3. Both hand means and mechanical means areprovided to set up this travel of the sickle I25. The hand meanscomprise a spur gear I31 of a smaller diameter than that of the gear I35mounted to be in constant mesh with that gear I35. The gear I31 is fixedon a mounting shaft I38, and in turn, a hand wheel I39 provided with agrip I 45, is fixed on this shaft I38, so that by turning the hand wheel6 I39, the sickle I20 may be reciprocated as the hand wheel I39 isturned in either direction.

A pair of plates MI and I42 are rockably carried by the shaft I35, plateI4I on the front side of the gear I35, and plate I42 on the back side.These two plates carry therebetween a pawl I43 normally biased to havethe right hand end, Fig. 1, pressed against the teeth of the gear I35 toenter therebetween as the gear I35 may be revolved in acounter-clockwise direction. The pawl I43 is used to set up acounter-clockwise travel of the gear I35 as the two plates MI and I42are rocked to the right in unison. The pawl pivot bolt I44 ties togetherthe two plates, as does also a lower pivot bolt I45. A pawl biasingspring I46 interconnects the left-hand end of the pawl I43 with thislower bolt I45. For the hand operation of shifting the sickle, the pawlI43 may be disengaged by rocking the cam I4? by means of the outerhandle I48 around against the left portion of the pawl I43 to hold theright portion out of the path of the gear teeth.

The connecting rod I49, adjustable in length, rockably engages the lowerbolt I45 by its right hand end, and by its left hand end engages the pinI55 which is held in the upturned arm I5I which is fixed to ahorizontally disposed slide bar 25I. This slide bar 25I is normallycarried to a left hand position by means of the spring I52interconnecting with the pin I53 and one of the brackets I28 there aboveand to the left. This slide bar 25I is mounted to slide freely throughthe horizontally disposed guide bars I53 and l54-carried across at lowerends of the downhanging arms I55, I55, I57 and I58 respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and I, a cam strap I60 receives across andinside of its rear end portion, a cam I6I that is fixed to the shaft 5I.The opening in the strap in the fore and aft direction greatly exceedsthe diameter of the cam IGI. The strap I58 extends forwardly to berockably interconnected through the bolt I32 to a lever I63 fixed on avertically disposed shaft I54 to swing in a horizontal plane. On thelower end of this shaft I54 is fixed a forwardly extending lever I65 toextend under the slide bar 25!. This lever IE5 is provided with alongitudinal slot I66 through which a bolt I51 may be passed and inturn, through the slide bar 25L In operation, the motor 53 is energizedto cause the grinding wheel 68 to revolve as well as the table 44 toreciprocate as above described. The forward position of this wheel 58 isdetermined by properly shifting the lever I5? to the forward positionfrom that position indicated in the drawings. However, the sickle I20 isfirst aligned with that grinding wheel by manipulating the hand wheelI39 and thus shifting the sickle oarrier along the supporting track toget the exact alignment. To prevent the outer or heel end of the sickleI25 from kicking up, a retainer plate III] is carried over the heel endsof t ose sections I2I, and by a downturned portion III is secured to thetrack by the bolts I52. However, the sickle sections may slide freelyunder this retainer plate I'IQ. Also, it is to be noted that the lengthof the track and the length of the sickle carrier may be made toaccommodate the longest usable sickle by extending the track to the sideof the frame work described.

Now as the table 44 reciprocates, it will carry the grinding wheel 58 inand out over the section edges, making two grinding actions thereoverfor each cycle. As the wheel 58 is carried rearwardly, the cam I5! is soset on the shaft 8| that it will quickly shift the slide bar 25] to rockthegear I35 to shift the sickleover to the left to have its sectionsalignedfor the next grinding action. The diameter and shape of the camlfil is properly proportioned to give the def gree of travel required.for the linkage between the strap I59 and the rocker arms I! and: 142.The cam pushes those rocker arms [4i and 1142 to the right, whereas thespring I52 returns them to the left.

Thus it is to be seen that a fully automatic grinding machine isprovided to take care of all of the grinding required to sharpenthemower sickle sections. While the invention has been described in more orless minute detail in reference to the one particular form asillustrated, it is obvious that any structural changes may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore donot desire'to be limited to that precise form beyond the limital tionswhich may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for grinding a sickle supporting means; a guide framerockably mounted on said supporting means to have its forward endswingable in vertical directions; means for adjusting the elevation ofsaid frame front end; a table carried by said frame, reciprocatable infore and aft directions; a grinding wheelcarried by said table torevolve on an axis transversely of said table at the forward end portionof the table; power means supported by said table in driving connectionwith said wheel; crank means carried by said table and revolved by saidpower means; a pitman rod engaged by one end to said crank means toreciprocate said pitman rod generally in fore and aft directions; apitman rod anchor member carried by said. frame, to which anchor memberthe other end of said pitman rod is pivotally connected, whereby saidtable is reciprocated; a sickle support positioned adjacent said tableend, said support being fixed in vertical, and horizontal fore and aftdirections in respect to said supporting means; and means for shiftingsaid anchor member to vary the zone of travel of said table.

2. In a machine for grinding a sickle, supporting means; a guide framerockably mounted on said supporting means to have its forward endswingable in vertical directions; means for adjusting the elevation ofsaid frame, front end; a table carried by said frame, reciprocatable infore and aft directions; a grindin wheel carried by said table torevolve on an axis transversely of said table at the forward end portionof the table; power means supported by said table in driving connectionwith said wheel; crank means carried by said table and revolved by saidpower means; a pitman rod engaged by one end to said crank means toreciprocate said pitman rod genorally in fore and aft directions; apitrnan rod anchor member carried by said frame, to which anchor memberthe other end of said pitman rod is ivotally connected, whereby saidtable is reciprocated; a sickle support positioned adjacent said tableend, said support being fixed in vertical, and horizontal fore and aftdirections in respect to said supporting means; and means for shiftingsaid anchor member to vary the zone of travel of said table; and meansyieldingly permitting said grinding wheel to lift relative to said tableupon pressure contact .of the wheel against said sickle.

3-. In a machine for r ndin a si kl div DOrting means; a ui e fram ro by on said means tov have its for nd s im; in vertical directions; meansfor adjus ing the elevation of said end; a table carried by said frameto be slidable fore and aft thereof; 9 grinding wheel carried by saidtable at the for, ward end thereof; power means, supported by the tableto drive said wheel; crank means can-.- ried. by said table and drivenby saidpower means; a pitman rod engaging said crank means by one end; apivot member carried by saidsupe port and to which the other end of saidpit-man rod engages; and a sickle support transversely positionedadjacent said table front end; said table being reciprocated throughsaid crank and said pitman rod from said pivot. member; and means foradvancing said sickle step by stepupon each table reciprocation.

4. In a machine for grinding. a. sickle. 511D..- porting means; a guideframe rcckably mounted on said means to have its forward end swing invertical directions; means for adjusting the elevation of said end; atable carried by said frame to be slidable fore and aft thereof; agrinding wheel carried by said table at the forward end thereof; powermeans supported by the table drive said wheel; crank means carried bytable and driven by said power means; a pit nan rod in said crank meanby n e d; a shiftable pivot member carried by said support: ing means,to which the other end of said pitrnen rod engages a sickle supporttransversely positioned adjacent said table front end; and for shiftingsaid pivot member, whereby the path of said wheel may have its forwardlimit advanced and retracted relative to said sickle suppOrt.

5., In a mac ne for gr ndi a si e, sunlporting means; a guide framerockably mounted on; said means to have its forward end swing inverticai directions; means for adjusting the lev t on o aid ends; a bl red by Sa d frame to be slidable fore and aft thereof; a grind,- ingwheel carried by said table at the forward: end thereof; power meanssupported by the table to drive said Wheel; crank means carried by saidtable and driven by said power means; a pitman rod engaging said crankmeans by one end; a hiftabie pivot member carried by said support.-ingmeans and to which the other end of said pitm an rod engages; asickle support transversely positioned adjacent said table front end;table being reciprocated through said crank and said pitman rod fromsaid pivot member; means for advancing said sickle along said supportstep by step'upon eachtable reciprocation; said sickle supportcomprising a track; said sickle advancing means comprising a sicklecarrier carried and guided by said track, a rack gear along said car.-rier, and gear means interengaging with said rack gear to shift thecarrier along the track; and means interposed between said power meansand said gear means intermittently turning said gear means apredetermined amount.

6. In a machine for grinding a sickle, Sup.- porting means, a guideframe, rockably mounted on said means to have its forward end swing invertical directions; means for adjusting the elevation of said end; atable carried by said frame to be slidable fore and aft thereof; agrinding wheel carried by said table at the forward end thereof; powermeans supported by he table to drive said wheel; crank means carried bysaid table and driven by said power means; a pitman rod en ag n aid c anm ans y ne nd; a

shiftable pivot member carried by said supporting means to which theother end of said pitman rod engages; a sickle support transverselypositioned adjacent said table front end; said table being reciprocatedthrough said crank and said pitman rod from said pivot member; means foradvancing said sickle step by step upon each table reciprocation; saidsickle support comprising a track; and said sickle advancing meanscomprising a sickle carrier carried and guided by said track, a rackgear along said carrier, and gear means interengaging with said rackgear to shift the carrier along the track; a ratchet mechanism fordriving said gear means; a cam driven by said power means; and meansactuated by said cam to actuate said ratchet mechanism.

7. In a machine for grinding a sickle, supporting means; a guide framerockably mounted on said means to have its forward end swing in verticaldirections; means for adjusting the elevation of said end; a tablecarried by said frame to be slidable fore and aft thereof; a grindingwheel carried by said table at the forward end thereof; power meanssupported by the table to drive said Wheel; crank means carried by saidtable and driven by said power means; a pitman rod engaging said crankmeans by one end; a Shiftable pivot member carried by said supportingmeans and to which the other end of said pitman rod engages; and asickle support transversely positioned adjacent said table front end;said table being reciprocated through said crank and said pitman rodfrom said pivot member; and means for advancing said sickle step by stepupon 10 each table reciprocation; said sickle support comprising atrack; said sickle advancing means comprising a sickle carrier carriedand guided by said track, a rack gear along said carrier, gear meansinterengaging with said rack gear to shift the carrier along the track;a ratchet mechanism for driving said gear means; a member driven by saidpower means in sequence with travel of said table; and connecting meansbetween said last member and said ratchet means, whereby said sicklecarrier is shifted along its tracks once each reciprocation of saidWheel, said connecting means providing for said shifting only While saidwheel is in its rear end of reciprocation.

ROY HOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 567,638 Clizbe Sept. 15, 1896630,687 Green Aug. 8, 1899 700,226 Neuens May 20, 1902 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 7 383,178 Germany Oct. 11, 1923 418,905 GermanySept. 16, 1925 32,022 France Mar. 22, 1927 (1st addition to 602,972)502,456 France Feb. 21, 1920

